Cathartic Cleaning

We've had a lot of rain lately which has created a lot of yard work to be done.  Double the pressure due to hosting a graduation party with more than 50 guest attending.  Needless to say, I spent my fair share of time outside keeping the jungle pruned.  Making the job more difficult was the fact that my body was rebelling to the time outdoors: clogged sinuses, heat rash, and to top it off - it seemed some little critters liked the taste of my skin.  I itched from head to toe.  The fact that I seemed to be getting new bites by the day, even after I swore off going into the grass, was not only disturbing but frustrating.  No! One! Else! in my family was effected; not my husband, my children, or my animals.

I was explaining my conundrum to a friend when she suggested the possibility that I was dealing with bed bugs.  She shared her experience with the little devils and how her sibling was effected but no one else in the house had a problem.  Her words were so innocently spoken yet terror spread through me.  This was the perfect time to employ the "Face It, Accept It, Deal With It, Then Let it Go," philosophy of Sheng Yen.

In order to face it, I took to the Internet and searched for bed bug images.  I also searched for fleas and other critters.  I have two dogs and a cat.  We get our yard treated for fleas, ticks, and chiggers but that didn't rule out the possibility in my mind.  None of the pictures or descriptions seemed to match up to my circumstances yet it did seem to be the best explanation.  I decided I needed to accept the possibility that I had a bug problem.

Facing that possibility was hard because I felt overwhelming shame.  The internet tried to make me feel better stating that even the most pristine homes have to deal with pest issues from time to time.  With all the rain it shouldn't be surprising if some of the little devils sought shelter indoors.  I also had to recognize I had recently been on a trip and spent time at a hotel and my dogs were boarded for a night and something could have come home in their bedding.

Bug issue faced and accepted.  On to the matter of dealing with it.  I did not accept this issue lightly and decided to deal with it in the most aggressive manner recommended by the websites.  I launched a full scale assault on my bedroom and everything in it.  I was a woman on a mission and I still had a good bit of terror in me.  No dust bunny was safe and the little pests, whatever version they were, all had to die.  I worked feverishly, dripping with sweat.  It was cleansing my pores of the toxins those little critters had injected into my skin.

The experience was quite cathartic.  It fit my personal minimalist movement perfectly.  No more dust bunnies, devil bugs, or heebie jeebies.  I was free to let go of the shame I felt.  My bedroom is freshened and a restful sanctuary once again.